It takes a hot day or spicy meal to truly appreciate the cooling properties of cucumbers. Even at room temperature, cucumber soothes the taste buds, and it is easy to understand their historic popularity with desert-travelers. Cucumber is one member of the Curcubit family, whose relatives include melons, squash and pumpkins. Originating in India, cucumbers enhance cuisines worldwide. Most productively grown on long vines, cucumbers can also be raised on bushy plants that take less space in the home garden. While cucumbers are usually cylindrical with green skin, some heirloom varieties are round, in shades of white and yellow.
What to Look For:
1. Heavy weight for size.
2. Smooth, unblemished skin.
3. Firm texture; soft cucumbers are on the point of spoilage.
Cucumber Storage and Preparation Tips:
1. Refrigerate cucumbers unwashed and unwrapped.
2. Cucumber peel is edible, but some people object to its taste. Peel cucumbers with a vegetable peeler; a knife can remove too much flesh.
3. Seed cavities sometimes contain more moisture than desired. To seed cucumbers quickly, cut in half lengthwise. Run a spoon the length of the seed cavity and discard seeds.
4. Some people find cucumbers more digestible when eaten without peel or seeds.
Cooking with Cucumbers:
Cucumbers enhance all kinds of salads, whether sliced or seeded and chopped. Indian and Middle Eastern dishes often combine cucumber with yoghurt or other dairy products. The mild astringency of cucumbers combines well with vinegars and tart fruit juices. Cucumbers also make excellent pickles, overnight in the refrigerator seasoned with vinegar, sugar and onion, or soaked for a longer time in salt-brine seasoned with garlic and dill. Chilled cucumbers form the perfect foil for spicy curries, Caribbean dishes, and South American seasonings.
Cucumber Nutrition Highlights:
Moderate levels of vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin K enhance the appeal of cucumbers’ refreshing qualities. Unlike some vegetables, cucumbers are essentially sodium-free and extremely low in calories.